A/N: Here is where things start to get nasty. Short and sweet, like the title.

Interlude- Sweet Poison

Azkaban Isle was in the middle of the North Sea. Wind, rain and waves battered the small island with a constancy that made it less of a song and more monotonous. Not that the inhabitants ever noticed this, lost in their worst memories. The innermost cells held the worst prisoners, the murderers and Death Eaters. The central cell held Peter Pettigrew, the man who had betrayed the Potters to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Azkaban prison had changed the small man. Formerly a bit rotund with bright, happy eyes and a shy personality, the convict's eyes were hard with revenge and dark with insanity. He was rail-thin and when a cold smile twisted thin lips he was capable of making many shudder. Peter had only one thought focused on his mind, kill Zachary Potter. The brat who had caused the fall of his Lord must be brought down. When he'd felt the burn of his Mark last summer a wide, insane grin covered his face for days.

Just outside his cell was a ring of cells that held Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange, Alecto and Amycus Carrow, Selwyn and the more animalistic than human Fenrir Greyback. The last cell in the ring held Bellatrix Lestrange, one of the Dark Lord's most devoted followers. Bellatrix's heavy-lidded eyes, wild black hair and sharp, coldly beautiful features bespoke her family lineage of the Blacks and Rosiers, but her idiotic cousin Sirius Black had removed her from the Black family tree after her trial.

Of all the prisoners in Azkaban, Bellatrix was frighteningly sane. In her case, the Dementors hardly affected her. There was nothing happy about her thoughts, there hadn't been in over 20 years. It was what made Bellatrix Lestrange so frightening to the wizarding world. She enjoyed what she did; taking delight in causing the most pain she could in the most creative ways. Her long, thin fingers wrapped around the bars of her cell and she gave a small, satisfied smirk.

She, like her companions, had felt the Dark Mark burn last summer. She knew what it meant, knew her Lord had risen again. It would only be a matter of time before her Lord freed her and she could join him again in purifying the magical world. First on her list was her unworthy cousin, Sirius. Following closely was her Muggle-loving sister Andromeda and the half-blood spawn she'd borne before Bella's imprisonment.

She turned her head, having heard movement down the corridor. Her eyes widened in speculation as she saw who it was. Lazily she watched James Potter stride confidently in her direction, taking in his appearance. 17 years hadn't been bad to the Potter Lord; he still struck a confident, handsome image. She licked her lips faintly as she noted the expensive leather trousers, dragonhide boots and acromantula silk black battle robes trimmed in the gold of a high-ranked Auror. He also wore silver gloves tipped and reinforced with pure silver plates.

"What brings such a high-ranked Auror into my presence, hmm?" she purred softly.

Potter shivered slightly at her voice and replied in a soft, husky tone, "A matter of mutual benefit, Lestrange."

"Oh?" she replied coyly. "And what would an Auror, an icon of the Light, want to do with such a woman as I?"

"Many things," he purred seductively, making her nearly laugh in delight. A man who knew the proper way to play the game!

He continued. "I can be of immense help to you, Bellatrix. I can be freedom from your prison, if you wish."

"Which one?" she said bluntly, watching his reaction.

Hazel eyes darkened in lust and he purred, "Both, if you wish it."

She reached one thin hand through the bars and traced a powerful jaw as she replied, "What do you want in return?"

"The position of Minister. The death for Sirius Orion Black and his son Rial Black would be a nice bonus."

"My unworthy cousin has a son?" Bellatrix hissed.

"Sired on my soon to be ex-wife," James replied dryly. "No matter, I can do without the Mudblood bitch's chintzy dowry. Saves me the trouble of arranging her death."

She eyed him speculatively and said, "You know my Lord has your son's death as a top goal, correct?"

"If he dies he will be no big loss," James replied dismissively. "He's a half-blood, his notoriety was has outgrown it's worth. He was my means into the higher ranks of the Ministry. He's grown attached to the Mudblood chit Hermione Granger in any case and do you really think I want my family's blood diluted that badly?"

"A bit ambitious, are we?" Bellatrix replied sardonically.

He raked his eyes the length of her body, making her shiver. "Bella dear, if we do this carefully enough we will be able to get rid of your Lord and the Minister at the same time. Tell me, does it sound nice to be a second in command to the insane Dark Lord or the wife of the most powerful wizard in the magical world?"

"I think," she breathed softly, "that we have many common goals. Let me out of here, James Potter and I will help you bring about the death of my cousin by mid-spring at the latest."

He produced a large, old key and put it in the lock, turning it in one smooth motion. He swung open the door and she paced out gracefully. He handed her a wand and grabbed her mouth in a strong, possessive kiss. Letting her go after a long moment he breathed against her ear, "This key will open your companions' cells. I will be in contact soon, my dark one."

She brushed a powerful shoulder for a moment before he turned and strode with aggressive grace into the darkness, headed for the exit. A cold, elegant smile spread across her lips and she laughed. Finally her careful, blind loyalty to the Dark Lord had paid off. True power had just been offered to her and she was going after it.

Well, dear cousin, you managed to piss off James Potter quite well. Congratulations! Her sardonic thoughts disappeared as she looked at the key in her hands. Hiding her satisfaction behind calculated insanity, she giggled in a high-pitched voice and set off to release her fellow prisoners.